The Tayshaun Prince block on Miller's layup last night was amazing, among the best defensive plays I've ever seen. There are all sorts of lists of the best shots and most dramatic moments of the post-season, but I don't know if anyone has ever compiled a list of the best defensive plays of the playoffs. Ones that come to mind immediately are Larry Bird's steal of Isiah's inbounds pass in 1987, Hakeem's block on John Starks at the end of Game 6 in 1994 and "Havlicek stole the ball!" in the 1965 Eastern finals. Anyone have more to add to the list?
Hakeem did pretty much the same thing as Tayshaun one year in the first round against the Blazers. He chased down Rod Strickland from behind who was going down for an easy layup. The Dream leaped up and blocked him and, I if I remember right, the ball hit Strickland in the head and went out of bounds. He also did the very same think to Kevin Johnson of the Suns going down and actually going up for a dunk, but I dont think that was in the playoffs.
Hakeem's block went out of bounds to Portland, but my recollection is that it broke their hearts right there and then. I was hoping one of the 'great' announcers would reference that last nite. I sure tho't of it. Glad you did, too. BTW - MJ's strip was against whom? Oh, yeah, that superhero Karla.
I would put Hakeem's block on Starks, Jordan's steal on Malone, and Havlicek's steal at the top. They were all done in the Finals and either won or saved the championship for their respective team.
How about the EC finals in 1995, when Jordan was dribbling the ball waiting for the foul to come and he was stripped by Penny (?) who threw the ball ahead to a streaking Horace Grant for the dunk they pretty much ended the Bulls' season.
It was Nick Anderson. I'm pretty sure that blocked dunk on KJ that had him fall on his backside was in the playoffs. 1994, I think.
The sequence against the Knicks in the Garden where Reggie Miller hits a 3, steals the ball, hits another 3, Mark Jackson steals the ball, passes to Reggie who is fouled & makes 2 free throws. 8 points, 2 steals, something like 5 seconds. Victory from defeat. Knicks go down!
I don't have any single favorite plays, but the way The Dream shut down Shaq during the Magic-Houston championship series is my favorite defensive performance of all time. Even Shaq admits he was owned.
How about Dream's stuffing the ball down Barkley's throat in game 4 of the 1994 coference semi finals? One of the best defensive stands was the 93 eastern conference finals between the bulls and knicks. I 'm pretty sure it was charles smith who was right under the basket and had his shot blocked 3 straight times by grant,pippen and jordan.
That Tayshaun Prince block was the most amazing defensive play I've ever seen. If Reggie scores there, they go into OT against a hot team at home. They go down 0-2, and their season is essentially over. If you're a Detroit fan, that's the biggest play in recent Pistons history.
Game 1, 1997 NBA Finals, Karl Malone at the line for 2 crucial foul shots, Scottie Quitten walks up to him and says "The Mailman doesn't deliver on Sundays." Malone, of course, bricks both and the Jazzholes ultimately lose by 2.
I thought about that one, but couldn't decide if it was the defense or the offense that was the more spectacular. As I recall, after Reggie got his steal, he actually dribbled out to the 3 point line instead of taking the easy 2-point bucket.
How 'bout some old school D: John Havlicek stealing an inbounds pass to a wide-open Chet Walker in 1965. Prevented the potentially championship-winning shot, gave the Celtics the title over the 76'ers. That's hustle, my friends. Or how about Robert Horry's burst of ESP in 1995 when he set the record for most steals in a playoff game with seven? Does putting Nick Anderson on the line twice in the 95 season count as a defensive tactic?
